Apparatus for loading shells for small arms



APPARATUS FOR LOADING SHELLS FOR SMALL ARMS L. D. KLEISS Oct. 10, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 5.

INVENTOR. L. D. KLEISS 3,345,904 APPAliATUS FOR LOADING SHELLS FOR SMALL ARMS Filed Oct. 5. 1964 L. D. KLEISS Oct. 10, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HQ 7 L.D. KLEISS BYQY-XW Oct. 10, 1967 L. D. KLEISS 3,345,904

APPARATUS FOR LOADING SHELLS FOR SMALL ARMS Filed Oct. 5, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l l a I x 1 I I Ma INVENTOR. 1 1.0. KLEISS F/G. /0 Y B M W L. D. KLEISS 3,345,904

APPARATUS FOR LOADING SHELLS FOR SMALL ARMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 5. 1964 INVENTOR L.D. KLEISS APPARATUS FOR LOADING SHELLS FOR SMALL ARMS Filed Oct. 5. 1964 L. D KLEISS Oct. 10, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. L D KL E ISS 3,345,904 APPARATUS FOR LOADING SHELLS FOR SMALL ARMS Louis D. Kleiss, 310 Gardner St., Berger, Tex.

Filed Oct. 5, 1964, Ser. No. 401,297 14 Claims. (Cl. 86-25) This invention relates to method and apparatus for loading small arms shells or cartridges. In one aspect it relates to method and apparatus for reconditioning and reloading shell cases or cartridge cases. In another aspect it relates to method and apparatus for reconditioning and for reloading used pistol, rifle and shot gun shell cases or cartridge cases.

In the following disclosure and claims the terms shells and cartridges are used interchangeably. Also, the terms shell case and cases, and cartridge case and cases, respectively, are used interchangeably.

The method and apparatus herein described and claimed is applicable to new and unused shell cases as well as to used shell cases.

In the arms, shell or cartridge art the primer or cap is an instantaneous ignition device, which produces fire when crushed by impact of the firing pin of the gun. The powder granules of the powder charge are ignited by the fire from the primer, thus producing heat and combustion gas pressure. This gas pressure drives the bullet or shot out of the mouth of the shell case and through the bore of the gun. This gas pressure must rise quickly to a predetermined level immediately upon impact of the firing pin with the primer so that the bullet or shot will leave the muzzle while the shooter has his sights aligned with the target. Rapid initial pressure rise also expands the walls of the shell case against the shell containing chamber of the gun, thus sealing oif escape of gas from the breech. The Lyman Gun Sight Corp, Middlefield, Conn., Speer, Inc., Lewiston, Idaho, and others, publish handbooks to guide the choice of correct powder charge for various I shells, bullet sizes and weights, and desired bullet velocities under average conditions. Powder burning occurs at the surface of the powder granules and the rate of burning is a function of the temperature and pressure. Since the heat and pressure produced by the initial ignition of the powder charge can escape only by moving the bullet it is evident that unpredictable bullet friction in leaving the shell case will cause erratic powder burning rate, erratic pressure and erratic bullet velocity at the muzzle. Pressures thus produced may be unsafe. Under such conditions a bullet will strike high or low on the target because of variable velocity. It is also evident that if the bullet is deformed by cutting or pressure during cartridge assembly, friction in leaving the shell case and in the gun bore will be variable. A deformed bullet may also yaw or wobble in flight as a result of unbalance or poor rotation by the rifling of the barrel.

The above mentioned factors establish the necessity for the various elements or steps of the loading procedure. In loading pistol and rifle cases with soft bullets, such as lead bullets, these elements are: (a) Size the case to original dimensions by swaging. A fired case is usually larger than a new, unused one. The used case also will not grip the bullet properly, and may not chamber in all guns of a given caliber. (b) Enlarge case neck to proper size for friction fit of the bullet. This latter operation is done also by swaging. The swaging tool also presses or smoothes out roughness caused by hot gas erosion during prior firing. (c) Flare or bell the case mouth so that the bullet can be easily centered in the case mouth and pressed in without shaving soft metal from the sides of the bullet. (d) Punch out old primer. (e) Insert new primer. (f) Add measured powder charge to the-case. (g) Insert bullet into case mouth and press to proper depth. (h) Crimp the case mouth to the bullet.

nited States Patent 3 ,345,004 Patented Oct. 10, 1967 It is common practice to use reloading tools called dies, powder measure, and priming ram, to accomplish the above mentioned elements or steps of reloading. Several elements or steps are sometimes performed simultaneously with one die in one operation following the general sequence given in the immediately preceding paragraph. Prior art carries out the eight elements or steps in five operations when using a conventional 3-die pistol set. In this'case die No. 1 performs step (a) of the reloading procedure. Die No. 2 performs steps (b), (c) and (d). The case is primed, step (e), at a priming station. Powder is measured and dropped into the case, step (f), using a powder measure. Die No. 3 performs steps (g) and (h). This art is described in The ABC of Reloading, published by the RCBS Co., of Oroville, California. Such procedure is also described in reloading handbooks published by the Lyman Gun Sight Corp., Middlefield, Connecticut, and by others.

According to my invention I provide shell case reloading tools which regroup the above given elements or steps of conventional reloading into only four operations in place of the usual five operations. Pistol ammunition can thus be reloaded in the four operations without violating any of the general rules of sequence given hereinbefore.

Current practice is to use a powder measure with a drop tube which serves only the function of directing the flow of powder into the shell case.

In my invention, I modify the conventional drop tube of the powder measure so that, in addition to its conventional function as a guide or chute, it also performs elements or steps (b) and (c). Thus, in my improved apparatus I use in operation (1), die No. 1 to accomplish steps (a) and (d). In operation (2) I prime the case, step (e), at a priming station. Operation (3) includes use of my special powder measure drop tube to flare the case mouth, step (c), and to enlarge the inside of the case neck, step (b), and to add the powder charge, step (f), to the case. However, if desired, step (b) can be accomplished along with steps (a) and (d) in operation (1). Operation (4) uses die No. 3 to seat the bullet, step (g), and crimp the case mouth, step (h). Thus it is seen that the conventionally used die No. 2 has been eliminated and also one less reloading operation is required. My rebooks and catalogs by the Lyman Gun Sight Corp., Herters Inc., Waseca, Minnesota, and other manufacturers.

A second general class of this category of reloading machines is the progressive press, wherein cartridge cases are held in a circular, rotatable plate. The plate is indexed a fixed angular increment at each stroke of an operating handle to bring the cases into working alignment with various reloading tools located at fixed stations. The rotatable plate can be either indexed manually, requiring a separate hand motion for each indexing, as described in US. Patent 2,031,850, to C. R. Peterson, or the plate can be automatically indexed by a pawl and ratchet arrangement as described in US. Patent 3,- 097,560, to L. E. Ponsness et al. With the pawl and ratchet indexing mechanism, it is noteworthy that the rotatable shell holder plate can move in one direction only, and that multiple operations cannot be performed at one station by multiple strokes of the operating handle. A third general class, also called a progressive re- 3 loading press, is described in US. Patent, 2,800,830, to R. Gerstenberger. In this third general class, cartridge cases are slideably engaged in a T-slot, being held in this slot by their rims. Cases being reloaded are ratcheted from one tool station to another along this T-slot at each upstroke of the operating handle.

In my invention I provide a fourth general class of reloading machine in which reconditioning and reloading of cartridge cases is accomplished in one pass through the machine.

In my apparatus, a traveling cartridge case carrier is slideably mounted on an upright central post and is movable both axially and rotatably with respect to this post. The cartridge case carrier is linked to an operating lever. Rotational movement of the lever handle around the post as a center causes rotational movement of the carrier around the post as a center. Up and down movement of the handle gives axial motion to the carrier with respect to the post. The cartridge case being reloaded is brought into working engagement with various fixed station reloading tools disposed in an are about the post. Because of this linkage of carrier and handle, a separate hand motion is not required to move the shell carrier from alignment with one tool into alignment with another, nor are cartridges being reloaded irreversibly progressed into the next station by an irreversible pawl and ratchet arrangement. My cartridge case carrier is completely reversible in motion. It can back up and repeat a previous operation, or it can perform an operation requiring several strokes of the operating handle at one tool station. It is relatively simple, requiring fewer parts than progressive reloading machines. My apparatus can be provided with various alignment means and travel stops fully explained in the drawing and specifications.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved cartridge case loading apparatus and a simplified method for loading cartridges.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved manual cartridge case reloading machine requiring a minimum of manual manipulation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multipurpose cartridge case reloading machine which can be easily set up for a variety of reloading sequences, and which is flexible and reversible in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reloading apparatus which is simple, sturdy and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved cartridge case reloading apparatus and a simplified method for reloading cartridges requiring a reduced number of operations to recondition and reload used cartridge cases.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved cartridge case holder for shotshell loading and reloading.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from reading the following description and drawing which respectively describes and illustrates preferred embodiments of the invention. In the various figures of the drawing like reference numerals refer to like parts.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, in diagrammatic form, of the apparatus of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a side view of an operating handle of the invention.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of a case sizing die with decapping pin.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of a powder measure with case mouth belling and neck expanding device.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal view, in section, of a bullet seating and case crimping die.

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal view, in section, of a shell case holder with shell case in position.

FIGURE 7 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of a priming assembly.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view of post 31 taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 10, described hereinbelow.

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view of a tongue support and tongue taken on the line 9-9 of said FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the apparatus of my invention looking from the side opposite the operating handle.

FIGURE 1.1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of a detent, such as detent 37.

FIGURES 12 and 13 are a developed perspective view of apparatus suitable for reloading shot gun shells.

FIGURES 14 and 15 are elevational views, partly in section, of an alternate embodiment of shot shell breech locking mechanism.

FIGURES 16, 17 and 18, taken together, are a developed view taken along an arc traveled by the shell holder when my machine is used for shotshell loading.

Referring now to the drawing and specifically to FIG- URES 1 and 10, the apparatus is supported by a base plate 11. A post 12 is a length of polished steel shaft, shouldered and threaded at the lower end, and is fitted into a hole in base plate 11. Post 12 is secured to the base plate by means of a nut 17 A tool head 13 is solidly secured to the upper end of post 12 by shrink fitting, or by other suitable means, as desired.

A cartridge case carrier assembly 14 is assembled from a group of parts, detailed below, and joined into a single operative unit. A sleeve 14a is fitted with a brass bushing 14b, and is slideably mounted on post 12. Other parts of carrier 14 are a sleeve 19 wherein is mounted a guide pin 20, a travel stop 22, and a shell holder socket 23 which has an inner bore 47 adapted to receive snugly a removable shell case holder insert 24. The shell case holder 24 is held firmly in its operating position in socket 23 by one or more set screws, not shown, spaced horizontally apart. A web 18 is joined to parts 14a, 19 and 23 by welds 140, 19a and 23a, respectively, and holds these parts in fixed, spaced relationship to each other. The above mentioned set screws are spaced, for example, from 60 to or other suitable distance apart. Travel stop 22 is fixed to web 18, or it may be an integral part of the web. To sleeve 14a and shell holder socket 23 are welded nubs Me and 230, respectively. These nubs .have inner bores 14d and 23b, respectively. Bores 14d and 23b have a common axis which is perpendicular to the axis of the bore of sleeve 14b, and are sized to receive snugly a pin 75. Pin 75 is secured in bores 14d and 23b by set screws, not shown.

FIGURE 2 shows a handle 15 in detail. The purpose of this handle is to manipulate and forcefully actuate the cartridge case carrier 14. A hole 15a is in the actuating end of the 'handle, a hole 15b is at a fulcrum point of the handle, a depression is for use with a detent mechanism which will be explained hereinafter, and 15d is a hand grip, or manual end of the handle.

Referring again to FIGURES 1 and 10, the function of a fulcrum swivel assembly is to provide a fulcrum point for handle 15, said fulcrum point swiveling or rotating freely about the base of post 12, yet being restrained from upward or downward motion. The fulcrum swivel assembly 160 includes a bearing 17 rotatably surrounding post 12, a strap 17c clamped on hearing 17 by 'means of screws or bolts 17g, and a U-shaped channel member 16 having an extension 16a afiixed to strap by a weld 16b. The U-shaped channel member 16 has holes to receive a fulcrum bolt 36, and it also includes a hook 16e secured to member 16 by cotter pins 16g. The portion of base 11 which is engaged by hook 162 is machined to a smooth radius about post 12. The lower curved portion of U-shaped member 16 bears against base 11, and is thus restrained from downward motion. Fulcrum assembly 160 is restrained from upward motion by hook 16:: which engages the underside of base 11.

and by a snap retaining ring 17h which is engaged in an annular groove, not shown, in post 12 just above hearing 17. Handle 15 fits inside the U-shaped channel member 16 with a minimum of working clearance, and is povoted therein by the fulcrum bolt 36.

Handle 15 is operatively connected to cartridge case carrier assembly 14. The connection 18a is built up by welding side members 17a and 17b to a sleeve 76 and to reinforcing webs 81 and 81a. Side members 17a and 17b are spaced apart at their lower ends so 'as to provide a minimum working clearance for the actuating end of lever 15, and are pivoted thereto by a pivot bolt 38 which passes through hole 15a of handle 15. The inner bore of a sleeve 76 is a snugly rotatable fit for pin 75. Pin 75 is a shaft the ends of which are operatively fitted into bores 23b and 14d of nubs 23c and 14a, respectively.

From the foregoing it is seen that when the manual end of handle 15 is moved clockwise or counterclockwise about post 12 the fulcrum swivel assembly 160, link 18a and cartridge case carrier assembly 14 will move in the same direction a like number of degrees. It is also evident that when the manual end of handle 15 is depressed the cartridge case carrier assembly 14 will move forcefully upward. If the axes of fulcrum bolt 36-, pivot bolt 38 and pin 75 are horizontal and parallel, this upward movement will take place without any tendency of the cartridge case carrier assembly 14 to rotate about post 12 during the upward travel. This point is a desirable feature.

Tool head 13 is provided with vertical holes 25, 26 and 27, as shown. These holes accommodate guide pin 20 at certain positions rotatably of the case carrier assembly. When the guide pin 20' is directly beneath opening 26, for example, the manual end of handle 15 can be pushed downwardly to raise the case carrier assembly upwardly and pin 20 enters the opening 26. When guide pin 20 is directly beneath opening or 27, similar actuation of the handle causes the pin to enter the respective opening. In normal operation of the apparatus, when pin 20 enters one of these openings one of the operational steps can take place.

Three additional holes are provided in the tool head 13 to accommodate, threadedly, tools 28, 29 and 30.

. These holes are spaced so that when guide pin 21) is engaged in one of the above holes 25, 26 or 27, shell holder 24 will be in correct axial alignment with one of the tools 28, 29, or 311, respectively.

Tool 28, shown in detail in FIG. 3, comprises a decappin pin adjustment screw 41 threadably mounted in a sizing die body 42. A decapping pin 44 is threadably inserted into the lower end of screw 41, as shown. The inside, smooth, cylindrical surface 43 of the sizing die body 42 is the surface which actually sizes the used shell case when the latter is forced upwardly into the open end thereof. This tool or die 28 is threaded into a threaded opening in tool head 13 and is identified by reference numeral 28 of FIGURE 1. A look nut 44a locks the decappingadjustment screw 41, and lock nut 44 b, FIG.

1, maintains rigid positioning of this tool 28.

A second tool 361, shown in detail in FIGURE 5, comprises a threaded seating die body 53, containing threadably, a bullet seating adjustment screw 50. A look nut 51 maintains adjustment of this screw 50 in body 53. The lower inside surface 54 of body 53 is slightly larger in diameter than the outside of the shell case being reloaded. The annular, beveled surface 52 is the crimping surface, and its functions as the month end of the shell case is forced against it. The bullet enters the smaller diameter portion 54a above the crimping shoulder as numeral 30.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the powder drop tube of my invention in cooperation with a powder measuring apparatus. The entire tool of FIG- URE 4 is identified as tool 29 in FIGURES 1, 4 and 10. The conventional portions of tool 29 are :a powder reservoir, body or frame 49 provided with a rotor 46. The rotor is provided with a drilled cavity 47a as a powder measure. This cavity, shown in solid lines, is positioned in a powder filling position and in broken lines in a powder dumping position. Powder measure cavities are usual ly made adjustable in volume. Suitable powder measures are described in catalogs by Herters, Inc., Waseca, Minnesota, and others.

In FIGURE 4 is also illustrated a preferred embodiment of my combination powder reloading, case neck expanding and case mouth belling tool. This combination tool is identified by reference numeral 45, and comprises an upper threaded end portion 91 suitable for threading into the lower end of the powder measure tool 29.

My combination tool of this invention comprises an axial conduit 92 extending through a case expanding and belling plug. This tool is used in conjunction with the powder measuring apparatus 29. Upon threading the tool into the lower end of measuring tool 29, the inner bore or conduit 92 guides the fall of measured powder into the cartridge case being reloaded. As the combination tool 45 is pressed into the cartridge case to serve as a drop tube the outer surface of the tool expands the cartridge case neck and bells the case mouth. The outer surface 45a, 45b of the lower portion of tool 45 may be slightly tapered, or not tapered. The upper portion 45b may be of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the lower portion 45a. This surface, 45a, 45b corresponds to the lower outer portion of a conventional neck expanding plug. I have found that the surface 45a, 45b enters a case smoothly and centers itself in the case neck with precision. It also expands the case without shaving or scraping when the upper surface portion 45b is of slightly greater diameter than the lower surface portion 45a, as hereinbefore described. The combined surface 45a, 45b provides a taper of the order of zero to three thousandths of an inch per inch of length. The annular taper surface 48 bells the cartridge case month while the outer tool surfaces 45a, 45b smooth and expand the cartridge case neck to a proper inside diameter. Preferably, the bottom end of member 45 is provided with a fr-ustoconical taper surface 450 for guiding into the cartridge mouth. The depth to which tool 45 is inserted into the cartridge case regulates the amount of belling. The adjustment of the stop pin 21 regulates the depth to which the expanding, belling and powder droptool is forced into the cartridge. The extent to which tool 45 is threaded into the lower end of powder measure tool 29 can be used as a means for regulating the degree of mouth belling. These two means of adjustment can be employed together as a means for regulating the degree of mouth belling. It is desirable that the surface 45a, 45b and 48 be hardened to resist wear.

One advantage of the use of the combination expanding, belling and powder drop tube of my invention is that it serves a conventional powder drop tube and at the same time serves the function of a shell case mouth belling and case neck expanding tool. With the use of this tool, as mentioned hereinbefore, the entire shell case reloading procedure is completed in four steps in place of the five steps of the prior art. Furthermore, only two of the three dies of the commercial 3-die pistol set are required. Other advantages are setforth herein.

Referring again to FIGURES 1 and 10, a primer post 31 is positioned upright and rigidly fixed to base 11 by any suitable means, as by threading through base 11 and a cooperating threaded nut, welded or not welded to the underside of the base 11. Referring to FIGURE 7, the small diameter lower portion of a primer ram 63 fits into a corresponding axial opening in the upper end of the primer post 31 and is secured thereto by any suitable means, such as, a set screw 31a. The upper end of ram 63 is enlarged to provide a shoulder 63!) for holding a primer cup 62 in its proper position, as shown in FIG. 7. A primer or cap 61 is shown inserted into the upper end of the primer cup, said primer cup being identified by reference numeral 62. A primer cup return compression spring 64 surrounds the primer ram 63 between the upper end surface of the post 31 and the lower end surface of the cup 62. This spring biases the cup upwardly at all times.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the shell case holder 24 with a shell or cartridge 55 in place. An axial opening 56 in the case holder 24 is provided for insertion of the primer cup 62 and primer 61 for priming. The upper annular end 62a of the primer cup is retained against a lower exposed annular surface 62b of case 55 while the ram pushes the primer 61 upwardly, and out of the cup into the cartridge primer pocket.

To guide the relatively fragile primer ram 63 and primer cup 62 into correct axial alignment with opening 56 of cartridge case holder 24, a sleeve 23 is provided with a lower apron-like appendage 24a, as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 10. This appendage has the shape of a circular arc with a vertical key 72 on its concave side. Key 72 mates with a vertical keyway 73 in the upper end of primer post 31. FIGURE 8 is a horizontal, cross sectional view of post 31 showing keyway 73. FIGURE 9 is a horizontal cross section of appendage 24a showing key 72.

A small depression 150 in handle at about the position indicated in FIGURE 2 cooperates with a spring loaded detent apparatus 37 of FIGURE 1 to indicate by feel a neutral position of the cartridge case carrier 14 with respect to up and down movement thereof, and to exhibit a slight tendency toward locking the carrier at this elevation. At this neutral position, the top of guide pin is about inch below the bottom surface of tool head 13, and the bottom of key 72 is about A inch above the top of keyway 73. At this neutral position the cartridge case carrier assembly 14 can be rotated either clockwise or counter clockwise around post 12 by corresponding rotational movement of the manual end of handle 15.

FIGURE 11 shows details of a typical spring loaded detent mechanism. A tube 74 contains a compressed spring 77, said spring being retained at the upper end by a cotter pin 71. The lower end of compressed spring 77 tends to urge a ball 78 into a depression 32.

Referring to FIGURE 1, another spring loaded detent mechanism similar to that shown in FIGURE 11 is located inside the bottom of the U-shaped member 16. A cotter pin 38a of FIGURE 1 corresponds to cotter pin 71 of FIGURE 11. The ball of this detent fits into depressions or holes 32, 32a and another one, not shown. This other detent hole corresponds to the position of the resizing and deprirning tool 28 and is not illustrated in FIGURE 1. The center detent hole 32a corresponds to the position of the powder measure tool 29. The third detent hole 32 corresponds to the position of the bullet seating and crimping tool 30.

Bolt holes 35 in base 11 are for attaching the apparatus to a work bench or table.

The operation of the above described apparatus is very simple. For example, to reload .38 caliber cartridge cases, insert a resizing and depriming die 28, FIG. 3, at its proper location in tool head 13. Insert a powder measure tool 29 and mouth belling, neck expanding and drop tube 45 of this invention for a .38 cartridge case, into its proper location in the tool head. Also, insert a bullet seating and crimping die 30 suitable for use with a .38 case, into its proper position in head 13. Insert an empty cartridge case into the cartridge holder 24. Move handle 15 manually to the right, as in FIGURE 1, until the detent for this position seats its ball and then depress until the shell holder 24 contacts the skirt of tool 42 for full length sizing and decapping. If full length sizing is not required, an additional travel stop pin similar to pin 21 can be 3 added to this apparatus. Raise handle 15 to its neutral position to extract the sized and decapped cartridge case from die 28.

Move handle manually to the left until the detent seats its ball in the middle hole 32a, then raise or lift handle 15d when a new cap, previously placed in the primer cup 62, will be inserted into the primer pocket of the cartridge case. After capping or priming is completed depress handle 15d to raise the shell case into the belling and neck expanding position. Travel stop pin 21 has previously been adjusted so that when it strikes travel stop 22 the correct amount of case mouth belling will be achieved. While the case is in this position the powder measure is actuated to drop the powder into the shell case. Raise handle to its neutral position and move again to the left until the ball of the positioning detent mates with hole 32. Insert the bullet manually into the belled end of the cartridge case and then depress the handle to raise the bullet and case into operative contact with the bullet seating and crimping end of die 30. Upon raising handle 15d and thus lowering the loaded shell case, the reloaded shell is removed from the shell holder as a finished product.

Separate dies 23 and 30 are required for each size of shell case to be reloaded. Only the expanding and belling insert 45 (FIGURE 4) of this invention need be changed for each size of shell case. Obviously, the adjustment of rotor 46 to achieve a suitable cavity size 47a will be required.

In operating this shell loading device, if one operation or one step does not pass inspection, a repeat operation can be made. For example, upon depressing handle 15d to size a case, the sizing step can be repeated if upon removal of the case from the sizing die the case is not properly sized.

When shotshells (shot gun shells) are reloaded in my improved reloading machine, a somewhat different cartridge case holder is required than when loading metallic case cartridge because of the relatively fragile shotshell case construction. My shotshell case holder is a closed breech metal tube which completely surrounds the case being loaded, except for the portion of the shotshell mouth which is to be crimped, and except for a hole in the breech through which primers are removed and inserted. The prior art shows the use of a metal tube to support the paper or plastic shotshell wall from bulging or buckling in the loading process, and also that the shotshell may be sized by pressing it into a tightly fitting bore. Prior art also shows a tubular shell holder resting on a table or plate, the table or plate receiving the thrust of wad seating and crimping force. Since the use of such a table or plate is not compatible with the axially and vertically traveling case carrier of my invention, it is a novel aspect of this embodiment of my invention to provide a closable breech for this tubular shell holder. The tubular shell holder with the shotshell locked therein can move freely, vertically or rotationally, from one tool station to another, and up or down force can be applied to the shell without dislodging it from the carrier.

A preferred embodiment of my closed breech shell holder is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. It consists of a vertical tube 102 slightly shorter than the shotshell case, with an inner diameter such that when shell cases to be reloaded are inserted into it they are properly resized for reuse. This tube is afiixed by brazing, screw threads, or other manner to the shell carrier web 101. Two or more horizontal slots or keyways 108 are formed in the outer surface of tube 102, spaced about apart circumferentially. A breech cap 104 is provided to fit the lower portion of this tube, having a generally U-shaped cross section, the internal curve of the U snugly fitting the outer surface of the shell holder tube 102. Horizontal keys 109 are afiixed to the interior of the breech cap 104, as shown, spaced and sized to fit the horizontal slots in the shell holder tube. A'flat breech plate 106 is fixed to the lower end of the breech cap, having a center hole 107 of sufiicient diameter for battery cup primer insertion and removal. In use, the shotshell case 103 to be reloaded is forced upwardly into tube 102 until the rim of the shotshell contacts the lower end of this tube. The breech cap 104 is horizontally slid upon the lower end of the tube, the breech cap keys 109 engaging the slots 108 in tube 102. The keys and slots are positioned as to provide about 0.005 inch clearance between the breech plate 106 and the flat base of the shotshell. A small magnet assembly 105 holds the breech cap in closed breech position to prevent accidental dislodgement of the cap and to assure alignment of the breech plate primer hole 107 with the shotshell primer.

Another embodiment of breech closure is shown in FIGURES 14 and 15, which are elevational views, partly in section. A shell holder tube 122 is internally the same as tube 102, FIGURE 12, and is affixed to a cartridge carrier web 121 in a similar manner. Two or more half round slots 123 are formed horizontally in the shell holder tube as shown. Two or more breech locking lugs 124 are provided, each having a half round protrusion at the upper end to engage rotatably the half round slots 123. An outwardly stressed compression spring retaining ring 125 engages grooves 128 in the upper portion of the locking lugs, holding the half round protrusion of the lugs in the half round slots 123 in tube 122. The lower portion of each breech locking lug 124 is a fiat faced hook which engages the base of the shell when in the position shown in FIGURE 14. A center clearance 129 is provided between lugs when in locked position for primer removal and insertion. Individual compression springs 126 are provided on each lug, tending to rotate the lugs outwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 15. An annular locking ring 127 has an internal tapered surface 130. When this ring is pressed downwardly it engages corresponding outer tapered surfaces 131 on the breech locking lugs to lock them in the closed breech position, as shown in FIGURE 14. When annular locking ring 127 is raised, the breech lug springs 126 rotate the lugs outwardly as shown in FIGURE 15 thus allowing shotshell insertion or removal. Other types of breech closure mechanisms, including screwed caps, are shown in the literature, and are usable within the scope of this invention.

FIGURES 16, 17 and 1 8 are a developed view taken along an arc traveled by the shell holder when my machine is used for shotshell reloading. The various reloading tools are known to the art, being described in U.S. Patent 3,097,560} to L. E. Ponsness et al., and in US. Patent 3,113,483 to G. J. Puth, and others. Only functions of these tools are related below. The cited patents adequately cover constructional details of depriming punch 140, combination shot and powder measure, wad ram and pressure measurement means 141, crimping dies 142, priming means 145, and crimp finishing dies and details of operation. These several tools are mounted in a tool head similar to that fully described in the preceding description for metal shell cases.

At the start of reloading an empty shotshell case, the breech cap 104 is removed from the shell holder assembly 147 and the shell holder is elevated over the shell insertion post 146 by manipulation of the operating handle 15d of the machine. An empty shotshell case 103 is placed on the post, mouth up, and the shell holder tube is forcibly lowered over the empty case, again by manipulation of the operating handle. The case is resized to correct outer diameter by insertion into the tube. The open end of the shell case extends slightly above the shell holder tube 102. If the flat brass of the shotshell was bulged by prior firing, it is straightened at the same time by the flat top of the shell insertion post. The shell holder is now raised slightly, and the breech cap 104 is mated to the shell holder tube, thus securing the shell within the holder. The operating handle of the machine is manipulated to bring the shotshell into alignment and forcible engagement with the depriming punch 140. The old battery cup primer is driven out into a receptacle 144 and the enlarged lower shoulder of the punch forcibly reseats the lower wad of the shotshell. A fresh primer is placed in the priming means 145, and the operating handle is manipulated to bring the shell over and down on the priming post. This priming post is similar to the priming post described earlier in this specification, and inserts the fresh primer into the primer pocket of the shotshell. The operating handle is manipulated to bring the primed shell case up to the drop tube 141 of the combination powder and shot measure.

It is common practice in the shotshell reloading art to use a combination powder and shot measure, the drop tube of which serves as a wad seating ram. Generally, a slidable charging bar controls the delivery of powder or shot, and the drop tube is spring loaded, so that deflection of the spring will show wad seating pressure. This type of measure is shown in the above mentioned patent to Puth, and is described in literature by and sold by Acme Industries, Inc., of Appleton, Wisconsin, and Mayville Engineering Co., of Mayville, Wisconsin, and others.

A measured powder charge is dumped into the shotshell, the shell holder lowered, one or more wads are inserted into the mouth of the shotshell, the shell holder raised so that the measure drop tube rams the wads to a predetermined pressure, and shot is dumped into the shotshell. The necessary up and down motions of the shotshell and holder are caused and controlled by the up and down motion of the operating handle. Again using the handle, the shell holder and contents are moved into alignment with, then into vertical engagement with the crimp starting tool 142, which can be of the type described by Puth, or it can be any other commercially available crimp starting tool. The partly crimped shell and the shell carrier are moved into alignment with and rammed against the fiat lower end of the crimp finishing ram 143. This latter operation flattens the inside of the crimp and tightens it. The breech cap is removed from the shell carrier tube, and the carrier is again pressed against the crimp finishing ram to eject the reloaded shotshell.

In the above sequence of operations, only one hand is required to bring the shotshell into engagement with any tool, and to apply reloading force thereto. Repeated operations may be performed at any one station. This combination is not found in other reloading machines and is due to the novel cartridge case carrier which is movable rotatably between fixed tool stations, and when aligned with the tools in these stations, both rotational and axial motions are caused and controlled by an operating lever or handle positively linked to the cartridge case carrier.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, an upright shaft affixed thereto, a tool head affixed to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, a shell case carrier assembly mounted slidably on said shaft, means to raise and lower and to rotate said carrier assembly on said shaft, a plurality of openings in said tool head the axes of which are parallel to and equidistant from said shaft, a guide pin afiixed to said shell case carrier assembly in such a manner as to mate with each opening of said plurality of openings, a pair of reloading dies and a combination powder measure, case neck expanding and case mouth belling tool in said head, a shell case holder supported by said carrier assembly, a primer assembly supported by said base, the axes of said shell case holder, said primer assembly, said dies and said combination powder measure, case neck expanding and case mouth belling tool being equidistant from and parallel to said upright shaft.

2. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, an upright shaft atfixed thereto, a tool head afiixed to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, a shell case carrier assembly mounted slidably on said shaft, means to raise and lower and to rotate said carrier assembly on said shaft, a plurality of openings in said tool head the axes of which are parallel to and equidistant from said shaft, a guide pin affixed to said shell case carrier assembly in such a manner as to mate with each opening of said plurality of openings, a pair of reloading dies and a combination powder measure, case neck expanding and case mouth belling tool in said head, a shell case holder supported by said carrier assembly, an upright primer support post aifixed to said base, a primer assembly supported by said primer support post, the axes of said shell case holder, said primer assembly, said dies and said combination powder measure, case neck expanding and case mouth belling tool being equidistant from and parallel to said upright shaft.

3. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, an upright shaft affixed thereto, a tool head affixed to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, a shell case carrier assembly mounted slidably on said shaft, means to raise and lower and to rotate said carrier assembly on said shaft, a plurality of openings in said tool head the axes of which are parallel to and equidistant from said shaft, a guide pin afiixed to said shell case carrier assembly in such a manner as to mate with each opening of said plurality of openings, a pair of reloading dies and a combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool in said head, a shell case holder mounted on said carrier assembly, an upright primer support base, this latter base being adapted to mate with said shell case holder, the axes of said shell case holder, said primer support post, said dies and said combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool being equidistant from and parallel to said upright shaft.

4. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, an upright shaft fixed thereto, a tool head fixed to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, a shell case carrier assembly mounted slidably on said shaft, means to raise and lower and to rotate said carrier assembly on said shaft, a plurality of openings in said tool head the axes of which are parallel to and equidistant from said shaft, a guide pin afiixed to said shell case carrier assembly in such a manner as to mate with each opening of said plurality of openings, a shell case sizing and depriming die, a bullet seating and crimping die and a combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool in said head, a shell case holder mounted on said carrier assembly, an upright primer support base being adapted to mate with said shell case holder, the axes of said shell case holder, said primer support post, said dies and said combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool being equidistant from and parallel to said upright shaft.

5. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, an upright shaft affixed thereto, a tool head aifixed to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, a shell case carrier assembly mounted slidably on said shaft, means to raise and lower and to rotate said carrier assembly on said shaft, a plurality of openings in said tool head the axes of which are parallel to and equidistant from said shaft, a guide pin affixed to said shell case carrier assembly in such a manner as to mate successively with each opening of said plurality of openings, a shell case sizing and depriming die, a bullet seating and crimping die, and a combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool in said head, a shell case holder mounted on said carrier assembly, an upright primer support base, a primer assembly supported by said support base, said primer assembly being adapted to mate with said shell case holder, the axes of said shell case holder, said primer assembly, said dies and said combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool being equidistant from and parallel to said upright shaft, and said combination powder measure and belling tool being intermediate said dies.

6. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, an upright shaft affixed thereto, a tool head affixed to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, a shell case carrier assembly mounted slidably on said shaft, a rotatable and axially immovable sleeve on said upright shaft adjacent said base, a bar having a manually actuatable end and a following end, said bar being pivoted intermediate its end to a U-shaped support, said support being supported by said sleeve, a link movably connecting the following end of said bar with said shell carrier assembly whereby upon raising and lowering the manually actuatable end of said bar the following end and said shell carrier lowers and raises, respectively, three openings in said tool head the axes of which are parallel to and equidistant from said shaft, a guide pin afiixed to said shell carrier in such a manner as to mate successively with each of the three openings upon rotation of said shell case carrier and actuation of the manually actuatable end of said bar, a shell case sizing and depriming die, a bullet seating and crimping die and a combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool intermediate the dies in said head, each one of the dies and powder measure, case expanding and belling tool corresponding operatively to successive single openings of said three openings, a shell case holder mounted on said carrier assembly, an upright primer support base fixed to the first mentioned base, a primer assembly supported by said support base, said primer assembly being positioned to mate with said shell case holder, the axes of said shell case holder, said primer support post, said dies and said combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool being equidistant from and parallel to said upright shaft and said combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool being intermediate said dies.

7. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, an upright shaft affixed thereto, a tool head affixed to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, a shell case carrier assembly mounted slidable on said shaft, means to raise and lower and to rotate said carrier assembly on said shaft, a pair of reloading dies and a combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool in said head, a shell case holder supported by said carrier assembly, a primer assembly supported by said base, the axes of said shell case holder, said primer assembly, said dies and said combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool being equidistant from and parallel to said upright shaft.

8. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, an upright shaft affixed thereto, a tool head affixed to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, a shell case carrier assembly mounted slidable on said shaft, a pair of reloading dies and a combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool in said head, a shell case holder supported by said carrier assembly, a primer assembly supported by said base, the axes of said shell case holder, said primer assembly, said dies and said combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool being equidistant from and parallel to said upright shaft, means to raise and lower and to rotate said carrier assembly on said shaft and means to position said shell case holder in line with said pair of reloading dies and with said combination powder measure, case expanding and belling tool.

9. An apparatus comprising a body member of tubular cross section, a conduit extending longitudinally through said body member, one end of said conduit being the inlet end and the other the outlet end as regards flow therethrough, an outer surface portion of said body member near said outlet end being frusto-conical in shape, the smallest diameter end of the frusto-conical portion being nearest said outlet end, an annular case sizing taper surface, said annular case sizing taper surface at its smallest diameter joining the largest diameter end of said frusto-conical portion, the taper of said annular case sizing taper surface being up to 0.003 inch per inch of length of the taper surface, and means to attach the inlet end of said apparatus to the outlet of a powder measure.

10. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, a shaft affixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, a tool head fixed rigidly to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, said tool head having at least three tool stations equidistant from said shaft and the axes of which are parallel to said shaft, a primer support post fixed to said base and extending upwardly therefrom, a primer assembly supported by said support post, the axis of said primer assembly being the same distance from said shaft as said tool stations, a cartridge case carrier mounted slidably on and rotatably around said shaft, a cartridge case holder supported by said carrier, the axis of said holder also being the same distance from said shaft as said tool stations and said primer assembly, an operating lever, said lever being adapted to rotate around a fulcrum, said fulcrum being swiveled to said shaft, said lever having a manual end and an actuating end, and a linkage connecting said actuating end of said lever with said cartridge case carrier.

11. The apparatus of claim having guide means to guide vertical travel of said cartridge case carrier into horizontal alignment with said tool stations and with said priming assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said cartridge case holder is a shot shell case holder.

13. A s-hell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, a shaft affixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, a tool head fixed rigidly to said shaft at a spaced distance from said base, said tool head having at least three tool stations whose axes are parallel to and equidistant from said shaft, a primer injection means supported by said base, the axis of said primer injection means being the same distance from said shaft as the axes of said tool stations, a cartridge case carrier mounted rotatably around and axially slidable on said shaft, said cartridge case carrier being adapted to support a cartridge case in operable position with respect to said tool stations and said primer injection means, and an actuating means operably connected with said cartridge case carrier to rotate and to slide axially said carrier.

14. A shell case loading apparatus comprising, in operable combination, a base, a shaft aflixed thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, a tool head fixed rigidly to said shaft at a spaced distance from said 'base, said tool head having a plurality of tool stations the axes of which are parallel to said shaft and equidistant from said shaft, a primer injection means supported by said base, the axis of said primer injection means being the same distance from the axis of said shaft as the axes of said tool stations, a cartridge case carrier disposed rotatably on and axially slidable on said shaft, said cartridge case from tool station to tool station to slide tridge case in operable position with respect to said tool stations and said primer injection means, and a manually actuatable operating lever operatively connected with said cartridge case carrier to rotate said carrier and a cartridge case from tool station to tool station to slide said carrier and case into operable contact with tools in said tool stations and to said primer injection means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,979,603 11/1934 Bosler 86-23 2,091,397 8/1937 Shockey 8623 2,700,915 2/1955 Pattison 8643 X 3,057,247 10/1962 Behrens 86-31 X 3,073,208 1/1963 Agnese 8623 3,082,660 3/1963 Robertson 86-44 3,113,483 12/1963 Puth 8623 3,185,019 5/1965 Shofistall 8644 FOREIGN PATENTS 225,955 12/1959 Australia.

SAMUEL FEINBERG, Primary Examiner.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Examiner.

R. V. LOTTMAN, P. A. SHANLEY,

Assistant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,345,904 October 10, 1967 Louis D. Kleiss It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 52, for "raw" read ram column 8, line 39, for "cartridge" read cartridges column 14, lines 12 and 13, strike out "from tool station to tool station to slide tridge" and insert instead carrier being adapted to support a cartridge Signed and sealed this 29th day of October 1968.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

1. A SHELL CASE LOADING APPARTUS COMPRISING, IN OPERABLE COMBINATION, A BASE, AN UPRIGHT SHAFT AFFIXED THERETO, A TOOL HEAD AFFIXED TO SAID SHAFT AT A SPACED DISTANCE FROM SAID BASE, A SHELL CASE CARRIER ASSEMBLY MOUNTED SLIDABLY ON SAID SHAFT, MEANS TO RAISE AND LOWER AND TO ROTATE SAID CARRIER ASSEMBLY ON SAID SHAFT, A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS IN SAID TOOL HEAD THE AXES OF WHICH ARE PARALLEL TO AND EQUIDISTANT FROM SAID SHAFT, A GUIDE PIN AFFIXED TO SAID SHELL CASE CARRIER ASSEMBLY IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO MATE WITH EACH OPENING OF SAID PLURALITY OF OPENINGS, A PAIR OF RELOADING DIES AND A COMBINATION POWDER MEASURE, CASE NECK EXPANDING AND CASE MOUTH BELLING TOOL IN SAID HEAD, A SHELL CASE HOLDER SUPPORTED BY SAID CARRIER ASSEMBLY, A PRIMER ASSEMBLY SUPPORTED BY SAID BASE, THE AXES OF SAID SHELL CASE HOLDER, SAID PRIMER ASSEMBLY, SAID DIES AND SAID COMBINATION POWDER MEASURE, CASE NECK EXPANDING AND CASE MOUTH BELLING TOOL BEING EQUIDISTANT FROM AND PARALLEL TO SAID UPRIGHT SHAFT. 